Elsa Pataky transforms into an old woman to help husband Chris Hemsworth deal with Alzheimer's scare

When a doctor broke the news to Chris Hemsworth last year that because of his genes he has an eight to 10 times increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, the actor admitted that what he fears most is losing all memory of his loved ones. 

To help him deal with the news, his wife Elsa Pataky (46) transformed herself into an elderly woman in the hope that it would at least give him a chance to see what his wife might look like in future, in the event that he does develop the condition.

Working with the team behind Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, the Disney+ series in which the actor explores the limits of the human body, Elsa made use of prosthetics, a wig, clothes and makeup to cook up a surprise for her husband.

In the clip that has now gone viral on social media, Chris (39) is seen arriving at a restaurant in a suit and tie having been informed he's there to meet one of his older fans.

When he arrives at the table he finds an 87-year-old woman who he immediately recognises as his wife and the two share a kiss and a hug. 

“You're still beautiful,” a teary-eyed Chris tells Elsa.

For Elsa it was a relief to hear these sweet words as she'd feared showing her husband her older appearance. 

“Ageing is frightening especially [for] women in this society. It made me think about how much value we give to youth,” the Spanish model had earlier admitted. “I feel really vulnerable and I don’t want Chris seeing me like this.”

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But in the clip it seems Chris can’t take his eyes off her. He constantly looks into her eyes and puts his hands on her shoulders. The two are later shown dancing the night away. 

Reflecting on the moment, Chris explains that ageing is less frightening when you have people by your side. 

“What is quite confronting is approaching that age on my own. What makes it less scary is having someone to experience it with. Having people around you that you love makes me feel a lot more accepting.”

Late last year Chris, who is best known for starring as Marvel Universe’s Thor, announced that he would take a step back from acting after finding out about his heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Chris and Elsa have been married since 2010. The two have three children, India Rose (10) and twin boys Sasha and Tristan (8). 

“The idea that I won’t be able to remember the life I have experienced or my wife and kids is probably my biggest fear," Chris says.